pixel flicker from short extension wire

[mrgimmeone]

was wondering if anyone has had this happen. i just tested my 6 170 pixel string per tree mini trees. the first 4 seem to light up fine but the next 2 in line seem to be flickering at certain times. these two trees are the only 2 i added a 3 ft extension wire to. if they are right up close and plugged in they light fine. so my question would be does 3ft of extension wire producing enough power loss to cause this flicker. if so i guess i will have to power inject if i plan to use long extension wire runs. i'm using 18 awg atm for the extensions.

[deplanche]

Yes, between the length and the connection it can make a difference even in that short of a length.

[mrgimmeone]

so if i wanted to run these about 40ft or so from the controller i would need a heavy gauge power feed wire out to them to power inject them.

[deplanche]

There are many factors that go into something like this - wire gauge, pixel type, number of pixels, type of pixels voltage, number of connections, length, etc - so it's hard to say that one change will make it work. 

Looking back at your first post, do you have all six of the trees connected to a single output on a controller?  That would be  1020 pixels on a single output which is over the limits of any controllers I am aware of.  Though if that were the case, not sure you could even get 4 trees to light up without problem, but had to ask.

[mrgimmeone]

each tree is arranged as 1 tree per output so 160 pixels per output on board using 6 of the outputs. the trees on output 5-6 are the only ones flickering but they are also the only ones i added 3ft length extension wire to.

[Boof63]

Try another extension (just in case)
But suggest pwr in jnection and point between 4 and 5
Cheers Boof63

[babybear]

on my mega tree I had set it up with 40 foot 14-3 wire tons of flickering, just by cutting back the wire to 37 feet eliminated my issues. your right at the limit. When I set up my show I should only have 33 feet of wire. Just building my whips now, getting ready. If you need the extra 3 feet add null pixels in the 3 foot section. From my experience 2.

[MrChristmas2000]

It also depends on the controller as well. With my Falcon F16 I can get up to about 45 feet from the controller to the first pixel.

With the new Falcon F16V3 each output will control 1024 pixels per output with power injection.

[Phrog30]

I didn't see you mention power injection. With that many pixels you will need to inject power. Do that and try your test again. All you need is to inject power at the end of the tree.



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[mrgimmeone]

i am using the E682. my mega tree uses 16 strings of 50 pixels each with 6ft of extension wire per string and i get no flicker at all with that. guessing because it's only 50 pixels per output. i will try and add injection behind each mini tree thats flickering and see what happens.

[MrChristmas2000]

Don't know the output specs on an E682.

It could be a power problem, that is usually what happens when a power problem occurs, the pixels flicker.

[mrgimmeone]

170 pixels per output on the E682. i'm running the 6 trees with 160 pixels each between outputs 1-6 or 1 tree per output. trees 1-4 light fine as do trees 4-5 if i don't try to extend the length of wire between trees as once i do that the tree with the extension wire flickers no matter the output it's on.

[mrgimmeone]

Ok so added another 3ft length of wire as injection to the back of the tree and it does take out some of the flicker an it does get a little brighter. as this was a temporary test hookup with 18awg wire as injection i would assume that a thicker wire like 12awg or 10awg would be a better choice for the injection wire and or a separate power supply next to the mini trees themselves. thing is i just don't want to put the controller out in the open where some kids may get the daft idea of stealing it. sad to think but has happened with other things left outside.

[Phrog30]

No, you need power injection period. I assume you are using 12v, you can't run 170 pixels without power injection. You will either get flickering or color issues. Turn all pixels on at 100% brightness and white and you will see the first pixels are white while the last are pinkish. You can turn down brightness and that may get you by. But for me and how easy it is, just inject power.

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[MrChristmas2000]

Also be careful with power injection that you don't hook 2 power supplies + lines together.